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Second CARES Act 45-Day Report

August 21, 2020

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed on March 27, 2020, to address unmet financial and health needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. Among its provisions, the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) awarded funds to institutions of higher education to address costs and financial needs arising from the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus. Each institution must use no less than 50 percent of funds received under Sections 18004(a)(1) and 18004(c) of the CARES Act to provide direct, emergency financial aid grants to students.

The University of Central Florida completed and returned the Certification and Agreement Form for the CARES Act funding for student emergency grant relief on April 11, 2020. UCF acknowledges and certifies that no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act will be used to provide emergency financial aid grants to students. UCF submitted the CARES Act 30-Day Report May 23, 2020.

UCF’s CARES Act allocation for student emergency financial aid grants totaled $25,535,625. An online application period opened on April 29, 2020 and closed on May 19, 2020. A second online application was opened June 24, 2020 and closed on July 5, 2020. To date the following number of awards have been made:

Total CARES Act Update
Number of Applications Received – First CARES Act Application 21,669
Number of Applications Received – Second CARES Act Application 17,022
Total Number of Applications Received 38,691
Number of Awards as of August 20, 2020 24,512
Total Amount Disbursed as of August 20, 2020 $25,522,355
Estimated Number of Eligible Students 56,769
Maximum Grant Award – Pell Eligible $950
Maximum Grant Award – Non-Pell Eligible $900
Additional (Bonus) CARES Act Award – Pell Eligible Students 5,387
Remaining Funding Available for the Additional (Bonus) CARES Act Award $3,199,081
   

*This reflects total number of applications received.
Students from the first CARES Act application could re-apply with the second CARES Act application.

For the second CARES Act emergency grant fund application cycle, the university assessed eligibility for CARES Act emergency grant funding. Specifically:

  • 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 FAFSA on file
  • Degree seeking and enrolled in Spring 2020 and/or Summer 2020 classes
  • Not enrolled in an exclusively online program
  • Not an international or undocumented student

The university established as an initial and tentative allocation that up to 75 percent of the available funding would be used for grants to Pell-eligible students (an estimated 20,033 students), with the balance to non-Pell-eligible students. UCF set initial maximum award levels of $950 (Pell-eligible) and $900 (non-Pell-eligible). The application asked students to explain how the disruption of moving to online learning due to COVID-19 impacted their academic performance and created financial needs. Students were asked to request funding in different areas (housing, food insecurity, utilities, etc.) for which they were experiencing financial impacts caused by COVID-19.

A full review of applications from the first CARES Act application was conducted. Applicants reported expenses and known economic need in order to determine the amount of funds each student received. Awards were posted and distributed directly to students via direct deposit or paper check. Students were notified via their official UCF email accounts.

UCF maintained the maximum award levels of $950 (Pell-eligible) and $900 (non-Pell-eligible) for each CARES Act award. The application asked students to explain how the disruption of moving to online learning due to COVID-19 impacted their academic performance and created financial needs. Students were asked to request funding in different areas (housing, food insecurity, utilities, etc.) for which they were experiencing financial impacts caused by COVID-19.

After awarding students who met the eligibility criteria outlined above we had a little over $3.1M remaining to award students an additional or “bonus” CARES Act award. These remaining funds were directed to students who received an initial CARES Act award, were enrolled for both the Spring 2020 and Summer 2020 terms, and who continued to meet CARES and federal financial aid eligibility requirements, and Pell-eligible. As stated above UCF established as an initial and tentative allocation that up to 75 percent of the available funding would be used for grants to Pell-eligible students. As of the date of this report $25,522,355 have disbursed. Should the institution receive additional CARES Act funding we will direct those funds to non-Pell eligible students who too received an initial CARES Act award, were enrolled for both the Spring 2020 and Summer 2020 terms, and who continued to meet CARES and federal financial aid eligibility requirements.

The instructions informed students of eligibility requirements for receipt of CARES Act emergency aid grants, including financial aid eligibility. Email notifications (approvals/denials) have been sent to students. Students were provided information and instructions here.

CARES Act Updates